Track to Trail - Supporting the American Quarter Horse Legacy.

Written By Justyn Vogel

First known as the “Celebrated American Quarter Running Horse,” the Quarter Horse was bred to run—and run fast. Unmatched in sprinting speed, these equine athletes can finish a quarter-mile race in a mere twenty-two seconds. The first Quarter Horse races were recorded as being held in Virginia in 1674, growing in popularity alongside the rapid expansion of the United States of America. By the 1930s, Quarter Horse racing had become an organized sport. In 1943, Rillito Park Racetrack was built in Tucson, AZ, the first track especially for Quarter Horse racing. According to the USDA, it is now estimated that around 840,000 horses are involved in the racing industry across the nation.

What happens to a racehorse when their short career on the track is over? That’s a difficult question to answer. The Quarter Horse is an incredibly versatile breed, and a sound, well-minded horse coming off the track can find a second career in areas such as:

  • In the rodeo arena or show ring,

  • In breeding programs, or

  • As a companion horse.

What about the horses who are not ready to step straight into their next career: 

  • Horses that aren't suitable for breeding.

  • Ones who have injuries that would prevent them from a second career as a performance horse. 

  • Horses that just need a soft place to land and some time to heal.

These are the horses “in-between.” They are a little less desirable, but they are still viable working animals. We may never know where many of these types of horses end up, but we hope to catch them before they get there. 

The New Mexico Horse Breeders Association reports that around 12,000 horses are associated with the racing industry within the state, with approximately half being American Quarter Horses. Each year, about 20,000 horses from the United States are shipped to horse slaughter facilities outside the US. Our mission is to step in and prevent these “in-between” horses from ever stepping foot on a slaughter trailer. 

While there are already many avenues for off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB), we have found significantly fewer for Quarter Horses. Our rehabilitation program is open to both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, but our primary focus is on developing a similar support system for off-track Quarter Horses as the OTTB community has already established. We intend to achieve this by:

  • Rehabilitating these horses into trusted trail partners through our "Track-to-Trail" program,

  • Creating an industry-wide network between horsemen and rehabilitation centers for rehoming racehorses,

  • Garnering support from various racetracks across the country, and

  • Educating the horse community about post-race career care.

The versatility of America’s horse means these athletes have the ability to live productive and fulfilling lives after their time on the track. Our mission is to rehabilitate these horses into trusted partners in the growing trail riding industry. Through advocacy, we believe we can create a support system so that off-the-track horses will never find themselves in the slaughter pipeline.

Justyn Vogel